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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said a virus is to blame for the killing of 200-300 Minnehaha Creek carp in June.

The virus is called Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC), and it is a notifiable disease to the World Organization for Animal Health. SVC primarily affects carp, but it can also affect bluegill and largemouth bass. The DNR described SVC as a serious fish disease.

Paula Phelps, the aquaculture and fish health consultant for the DNR, said that SVC can be spread between bodies of water and that is important not to take live fish out of one body and place them in another.

“The discovery of this virus (SVC) reinforces the importance of new laws designed to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and fish diseases by prohibiting the transfer of water between water bodies,” she said.

The DNR confirmed the presence of the SVC in Minnehaha Creek after it took samples on June 16 and sent them to a veterinary lab at University of Minnesota and the National Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. Since June 15, no other fish kills have been reported, the DNR said.

The DNR said it plans to test other bodies of water when temperatures cool to determine the geographic range of SVC. At the moment, water temperatures are too hot for optimal testing, the DNR said.

If you come across a fish kill, report it to a state officer by calling 800-422-0798 and state the name of the body of water, an approximate number dead fish, the species affected, and the date.